Forecasting of freshwater demand in Kuwait

One of the major tasks of a government is to ensure a reliable supply of fresh water to the population for sustainable living and growth in living standard. This is all the more important in an and country like Kuwait, where usable water is in short supply. The decision to expand the existing capacity of fresh water production is determined by the projected future demand. A good understanding of the factors influencing demand and reliable estimates of the parameters describing demand behavior and consumption patterns are prerequisites. An analysis of historical data on water consumption and other relevant parameters has been carried out and an econometric model of freshwater consumption in Kuwait has been developed in this context. Based on various assumptions on the growth of population, per capita consumption, economic growth, and immigration policy, projections of freshwater demand till the year 2025 have been made with the help of this model. For the year 2025, this figure varies in the range of 1027 to 3036 Mm(3)/year. The government tariff and immigration policies are expected to have major influence on the future demand growth.